Open Chronicles Eretejva... I've come to bargain!

[TTamark]

(This is open to anyone in a position of power in the Eretejva tundra)

The message had gone out weeks ago, carried by Dea'roh that had lost their pigmentation, and held only unlife in them now. To the capital of Nordengaard however a raven with the same condition of unlife was sent. each had roughly the same message:

Dear Resisdence of The Eretejva Tundra,

The dead are coming. They have been traveling up to reach here for many months, and are now only weeks away. The reason I am reaching out to you is because I wish to meet with you about what to do about the approaching horde. I have seen many tribes attacking, and meeting their end before them, worse having their bodies forced against their will to kill their kin. I hope that my reaching out instead of allowing them to show up unannounced will be seen as the act of good will it is, and help sway you to meet with me. I will be heading to Nordengaard to meet with all who will hear me, to meet with you the day before the next full moon. Sorry if this is a inconvenience, or rude to any of you, but I know little about your land, only a small amount from books.

Please allow me to try and help you. No man deserves to lose their soul.

From a desperate man,

Steve, son of Will, Spudmancer supreme, Founder of farms for salvation, Necromancer of friends, Apothecary to all, First member of the Eternum, Father of the Chicken-Orc race.

Finally the day came, and Steve descended on his skeletal winged steed early in the morning. He landed outside the city, and continued towards it till he met who he assumed to be guards, or at least citizens of Nordengaard,

"I am Steve, I sent a raven requesting a meeting with various leaders in Eretjva... can I enter the city, and where should I go?"

Maude | Nidraak

 

[Maude]

NORDENGAARD

Nordengaard did not receive a lot of foreign visitors - even less of those from beyond the tundras of Eretejva. Less so, still, of undead nature. Most could not even recall a time when such a thing walked the realm of the Capital. Needless to say, Steve's arrival caused a stir. Not that he had been unexpected.

"He has arrived."

Nothing more needed to be said where 'he' was concerned. The Nordenfiir Queen looked up from where she sat at the head of the Council Hall table, signing letters that would be sent to the outlying Norden settlements with this news. Her gaze was not telling of enthusiasm, as much could be construed by the dark expression on the messenger.

Undead. Coming to Eretejva. In force.

"Bring him in," she replied shortly before returning to the task at hand.
"And his...mount?"
"What about it?"
"It is an ... unnatural thing."
The Queen paused briefly as she inspected the present missive at the top of the pile before her, upper lip ticking irritably, "We've still the hitching rails outside the stables for the Strekkers and Molva, do we not?"
"We do, Dott'rhi."
Her eyes lifted, stinging at him briefly, "Use that ... and keep an eye on it."
"As you say."

"Steve Willson," the gates outside the Capital of Nordengaard finally opened a short while later and the man that greeted Steve was as big as a mountain itself and clad as if prepared for war. In the freezing winter air he bore far too much skin than was right for any man (which was to say, any skin at all in the sub-zero temperatures), but he was a Nordenfiir, much like the rest of them here, "The Queen is expecting you."

Not quite so soon, he did not say as he motioned for the man to follow and turned to lead the way, but not before giving the skeletal mount a wide-eye of suspicion. They walked the paved pathway between stone buildings that made the merchant's quarter, traveling short distance until they came upon a larger structure. From within the sounds of beast mounts could be heard, "You'll need to tie your ... creature here. If it ...needs anything," the statement was one of odd uncertainty, catching in the rough of the man's thick beard, "the Stablemaster will see to it."

 

[Sannoru]

Jarl Kolbrandr was one of the few rulers of human settlers from the west that heard the call of the gathering. Among him were also Jarl Mikkel and Jarl Raumr, but most others had nod heeded the call, either from the dubious nature of it or the final destination being Nordengaard.
They were already in the city for a a week in advance, staying in the lodgings set aside for ambassadors. When word about Steve Willson's arrival came to them, they were rather sluggish to leave their station. Only Jarl Raumr took more intiative than the rest, being the most worried by what this messenger had to say.
Perhaps he was the most superstitious of them all.

Roughly at the same time as a skelletal steed reached the city, a large herd of reindeer and eastern dark elves began to appear on the horizon. It was roughly three representative tribes with a portion of their people in tow. Most had not dared to come near any nordenfiir settlement this soon. And most had not even heard of news that a change of power had occured.
Yet the elders ushered for them to go, as fearful as the young leaders were, they would listen to them.

Uyap almost had to be dragged by Kaskil and Karradam, for he changed his mind to go halfway along the trip. But it was necessary for them to go. For any civilians that came along, they did so by choice, bringing with them their reindeer untill the herd grew massive.
and thus they arrived to Nordengaard, even if so reluctantly.

 

[TTamark]

Steve smiled at the man,

"Thank you, but she just needs a little bit of potato, isn't that right?"

Steve placed some potatoes into a sack which he hung on his skeletal horse's mouth. The horse let out a happy little neigh as it did a little dance, and stretched it's wings. Steve laughed at the silly beast, and gently patted its back.

"If I get myself killed make sure she is set free. She agreed to help me, but her life is still her own, and is not a slave so my death would not make her spoils. She is already nervous enough with all the nordenfiir nearby. I heard horses were uneasy around them, but... Anyways, she is a good girl, and might be putting on a brave face, but be kind to her please. Now you said the queen is expecting me, so do you mind leading me to her, I do not wish to be rude by keeping her waiting."

As Steve followed he pulled a pot from his backpack, and hung it around his neck. He added some ingredients to the pot which he used his magic to sauté. From his backpack hopped a chicken without its feathers, which added potatoes and then itself to the pot. As they walked Steve added clean snow and used his magic to boil the stew, and every now and again would reach back, and pull out another ingredient to add to the pot. Steve continued to seemingly grow tired as they walked, and not just from the large bag he had, and the pot of stew around his neck. Each time however he would pull out a potato which would turn to dust in his hands before seeming refreshed. By the time they neared the palace he had created a pleasant smelling stew.

"Oh, uh... is M and M, bard god, ok? Th-the Raven, he was white, loved to sing, he's slim, a bit shady, so is he alright?"

 

[Maude]

The man stared at Steve as he explained his unsightly mount, a grave expression forming on his face that seemed to be making great effort at keeping his thoughts to himself.

"Right," said the man when Steve finished, "this way." The muttering in Fiirevik couldn't be missed as he turned and made way through the Merchant's Quarter. He looked back on occasion to check his charge was still in tow, raising a brow and shaking his head at the human's strange business. Steve was garnering quite a lot of these similar looks, from both bear and men alike. Enough to stop what amounted to oversized grizzlies and the other warrior peoples of Nordengaard in their stride to watch as he walked and ... cooked.

"I am unsure of the fate of your messenger after it delivered it's missive," his guide responded as they cleared through another guarded set of gates at the rise of a wall of stone and ice, "if it came from the south it likely perished. Creatures from the south don't belong up here. They don't survive."

The palace, as Steve saw it, was another two Quarters up the mountain and quite a distance away, not the direction his guide moved once they moved through the gates. Heading left along a fork in their pathway, they tread across snow and ice through a freezing wind that billowed in from the higher peaks. A great hall stood at the top of a broad rise of stone stairs, broad and wide with the warm of a golden glow spilling out from slitted windows.

INSIDE THE COMMUNITY HALL

The Western Jarls were lead inside and up the stairs to the second level; a great communal room set by a massive wooden long table. Had they ever paid visit to Nordengaard before, they would be familiar - this was where the leaders convened at the Capital, away from the palace of the Frozen Halls. Maude stood in an elevated receiving area at the back wearing the typical garb of her people: steel, leather, pelts, weapons, and a dour look of a Queen who was still making great efforts to mend the bridges burned by Borvenir.

"These are the Jarls of the Western nations, Dott'rhi," Aether the Priest, seated at a table next to her. He was as old as the late King Iordahn would have been, had he not been late. He wore his age like the Eretejvan mountains wore snow: proudly and handsomely. A thick mane of white doffed his head and jaw, the scars of his life's trials veritable rivers carved into his hide. He wore the robes of his Priesthood now, having retired his weapons and armor decades ago when his strength had begun to fail and old war injuries began to haunt him. Aether motioned a hand to the men presently arriving, "Jarl Kolbrandr there in the front," his pale eyes worked to find familiarity in the man that followed, "Jarl Mikkel ... and," he made a thoughtful noise, shifting on his seat, "I'm afraid I do not recognize the last. He is quite young." Aether had a mind like a trap, this Maude knew. If he did not know the third Jarl it was likely he was a recent addition.

Maude watched the men as they approached, "So few have heeded this call."

"And no surprise," Aether nodded, adjusting the black pelt draped over his shoulders, "the Reign of Borvenir the Usurper is fresh yet. Ah-" a gust of wind behind them, a raucous HAAAWWWW as a large, three-eyed raven flapped in and brought half the winter's snow with it.

Antlers at the gates! it cried.

"Seems the Herders have arrived," Aether tossed a piece of meat to the herrevan, "I sent Denma to greet them."
"You think it wise to send her?" Maude lofted a brow, "She has not the gentlest tone and they are skittish as a hare."
"No, perhaps not," Aether smiled, "but the shortest stature. Less imposing, my Queen."
Maude's lips thinned, the Jarls approached, she waited in silence, unsmiling..

STEVE

Steve's guide motioned him inside the hall and another man of slighter build met them in there, "You are Steve Willson? I am Hagen, of the Queen's Council, follow me."

And up the stairs they went.

AT THE LOWER GATES

Denma arrived with a cadre of guards and a Priestess. She was not, perhaps, the best choice for a welcoming party for the Elves given her rather dark disposition, but she could be counted on to get the Ambassadors wherever they needed to go safely and unimpeded.

She took a moment to look them over, noting the wild fear taking hold of their mounts as her group approached, and stopped a healthy distance away.

"Ambassadors of the Eastern Dark Elves, welcome," her voice rang out hoarse and loud over the din of the great herd, "we have arranged a campsite for your people and herd at the lake where they may rest peacefully, the Priestess will take you there. Leaders, follow me, leave your mounts to the camp."

The Priestess offered mild translation for those who might not understand common. It was clear she had a decent grasp of their language to get the message across, but not strong enough to be considered eloquent.

 

[Sannoru]

»Raumr Agnarrson.« One of his enturage told.
Raumr barely had the first fluff on his chin. His hair was yellowish blonde and made in two front laying braids. Around his shoulder lay a floak of red fox furs, flattned heads and paws included.
Mikkel Mikkelson was a man with short hair but a long beard, dualtone like salt and pepper. His face was covered in blueish-green tattoos. He looked grizzled and meanspirited. But an odd confidence was about him. He did hold himself rather high.
Kolbrandr Valdemarson however had hair red like fire, part braided and part loose. A thick yak fur cloak was around his shoulder and the cloth that dangled off it was like thick red carpet. They say his Jarldon, Bjallsky was one of the most powerful.
»Perhaps more would have come, « Kolbrandr mused, most would have known the hint.

»Regardless. This supposed joke of an 'Eternum necromancer', where is he.« Growled Mikkelson.

------

The herds of reindeer closest shuddered and shook, yet remained by their masters. They always moved in unity, even against predators.
Eastern dark elves always seemed impressed when somebody spoke their native tonue, or one they knew, even if poorly. None of them however dared to correct them to call them Tabkha and Sokcha instead, as how they called themselves in their native tongue.

Kaskil returned to speak in common Eretejvan, his hand motioned fluidly in respond and translation for their people. »That is very generous from Nordengaard. Kintey, escort the people to the campsite.« He breifly motioned at one of the other Tabhka, whom began to rally and seperate the people to with the priestess untill the three leaders were alone with the Nordenfiir.

They would follow Denma, yet some unease was still present on their face.
Kaskil had skin as blue as the night sky and his beard was thick, wild and black in colour. Bright yellow eyes would shine from udnerneath thick brows.
Karradam was the tallest of the trio, but most 'tidy' in appearance.
Uyap had the shortest beard, but long hair tied in a low ponytail. Part of his face was scarred, most likely from a bear.
All of these elves were dressed in pale colours supplimented by bright lacing in red, green, yellow and orange. They likely the most colourful of any people living in Eretejva. Most of the adult women among the commoners that came had some kind of tattoo on their face. Usualy in the form of whiskers.

 

[TTamark]

"I am unsure of the fate of your messenger after it delivered it's missive," his guide responded as they cleared through another guarded set of gates at the rise of a wall of stone and ice, "if it came from the south it likely perished. Creatures from the south don't belong up here. They don't survive."

Steve kept walking, but in his head he started rethinking everything: He had turned the raven to unlife, right? Yeah, it definitely was undead, he had drained the pigment while turning them. Wait... did I forget to turn it while draining the pigment? No... there is no way! Plus it never would have survived to reach Nordengaard with all that potato stuffed inside it if it wasn't undead. Wait did it not eat!? It was undead, normal people don't usually feed the undead!

Suddenly Steve was awoken by his guide motioning at him.

"No. You have raised a more important matter to my attention. Where is the ravens body? It was in a state of unlife, and could continue as such as long as it was able to eat roughly the same amount as a normal raven would. I'm sorry I should have made that known in the message. I need to see him... o-or his body... NOW!"

Steve's voice broke near the end as he stood still, though his body shivered violently not being used to such cold temperatures, even with the heavy fur he covered himself with. Steve though, seemed to no longer pay it any mind. His friend might need him. Nothing else mattered.

 

[Maude]

"You'll have to take that up with the Queen," Hagen replied, "she would best know the answer to your questions. If it survived, I am sure the Ruuk Master is taking good care of it."

Far be it from those of Iordahn's regime to give an Ambassador a colder welcome than intended. Hagen waited patiently in the doorway, one arm outstretched in a gesture to step inside, "Come, the chill has got you, I can see it."

 

[TTamark]

Please don't let him be dead. The thought repeated over, and over again in Steves head. If his own negligence caused him to break his promise of life, and the death of a friend... Well Steve didn't know what he would do with himself.

"I hope you don't mind, but could you escort Doctor Dairy to M&M? You see I'm about to lose my mind, he's been gone for so long, I'm afraid I'm running out of time. If he needs a doctor, I'm calling a doctor to bring him back to life."

The chicken, apparently named Doctor Dairy, that was in the stew hopped out, now just bones. Steve bent down and quickly helped dry it off. After handing Doctor Dairy an unnaturally red potato, Steve walked up to Hagen.

"Sorry for the wait, please lead on. I am not really aware of most of your customs so I do hope I will not be rude. So unless you tell me otherwise, like right now, I am pretty much going to bow, see if we are still waiting for people, then jump straight into negotiations with her"

When they reached the door, Steve entered bowed, and pulled out a potato which spoke,

"Before you stands Steve, son of Will, Spudmancer supreme, Founder of farms for salvation, Necromancer of friends, Apothecary to all, First member of the Eternum, Father of the Chicken-Orc race."

And then bowed again.

 

[Sannoru]

From the restless beasts at the campsite to the Tabhka and Sokcha civilians, young and old alike. The reindeer people were a relatively rare sight, all things considered. But now they were here, many and in one place.
One could simply wonder what drove so many to accompany the young tribe leaders to Nordengaard.


The three had left for the meeting, following Denma along the way.
A few civilians demanded to go along, but as per Sokcha tradition; one could not command another to leave or go.

 

[Maude]

There were perturbed faces all around in regards to Steve. Truly the strangest being to have ever crossed their borders, which was saying quite a lot.

His guide looked at the undead chicken as if Steve had just dropped his drawers and shat on the entrance stoop of the hall. It would have been less odd, for certain, had he done that instead. Everyone shat, but who the hell carried around an undead chicken in a pot of stew? No one, that's who.

Maude looked up from where she stood quietly conversing with the Priest from the far end of the hall as the guest of the hour finally arrived with a flourish of black robes and ... a talking ...

"Is that..."

"By my reckoning," the Priest rubbed at his chin, "it's either a piece of dried dung or one of those root vegetables from the Summerlands. What do they call them ... dirt apples I think." One of the elvish translations, it would have to do. The name of it was hardly their concern so much as the fact that it was speaking.

Maude's expression took on a dour appearance at the listed titles of the man. Undead was one thing, but this was getting absurd. Absurdity was right about where she drew the line.

"Welcome, Steve Willson," the Queen intoned with a nod in return to his bow, "I am Queen Maude of Nordengaard. Please, make yourself comfortable. We await other parties yet."

 

[TTamark]

Steve saw the looks he received. As he moved to the side of the hall, where it looked as though he'd be out of the way if he stood there, he thought on how to proceed. It might have been more convenient if he had shown up after the rest, it undoubtably would have felt less awkward for him. Feeling he should likely address the looks he decided he should speak up,

"My apologies if my appearance, actions, or words gave any semblance of rudeness. I come from almost as far as one can from this land, and my only knowledge of your ways stems from small mentions from time to time within the College of Elbion. I would however like to thank you all for welcoming me here, if only to hear me out."

With a large grin he bobbed his, already craned, head in a way of saying thanks. Afterwards focussing his attention once more on keeping the stew at a light simmer. Steve couldn't help wondering if he had made enough, and whether he should have made more.

 

[Sannoru]

Mikkel sneered in a malicious way as Steve entered into view, he looked as pathetic as he imagined. Raumr, who gazed at Mikkel this whole time seemed to now be in a relieved state of mind. Slowly he walked a bit further away from both of the Jarls to get a better view of Steve. He was an odd fellow...With uh...an animated little fowlbird in a cooking pot?

Not long after entered the three clansleaders, and they were not alone. After them wandered some of the civilians of their tribes, and if anyone attempted to, they wouldn't listen to leave.

 

[Maude]

A curious eye of the Queen followed Steve as he settled off to the side, notably out of his element and discomforted. She might've remarked on Elbion and its famed College, recalling she had been there only a few months prior, but the rest of the known delegation arrived through the doors. Maude, instead, turned her attention to them.

Aether made a thoughtful noise, rubbing at his chin and offered the Queen a half shrug, "I'm afraid I don't know their names, Dott'rhi. Their kind had eluded us for good reasons over the last few centuries."

Just as well, if today was to be their first introduction to the new regime let it be fresh and good. Maude nodded before turning to the elves, "Welcome, Clansleaders, to Nordengaard. I trust Denma offered your clans rest at the camp by the lake?"

"All tucked in," Denma said from the back of the group before moving to take a seat at the long table.

"Good," Maude replied and gestured to the table, "if everyone would please take a seat we can get started. Willson, your seat is there," and she pointed the chair sitting just to the left of the head of the table where she, herself, moved to sit.

"Since it seems we have some new faces and a reason to make introductions...I will start. I am Gemaudelene of the Frozen Halls, Queen of Nordengaard. This is Aether, Denma, and Hagen of my Council. Lords of the western clans, if you please-" a gesture to Raumr and his entourage.

 

[Sannoru]

The jarls of the westernlands puffed up a little, the most flamboyantly looking was Kolbrandr.
»Raumr Agnarsson, jarl of Kletterby,« bowed the man. After him, Kolbrandr stepped into view. »Kolbrandr Valdemarson, Jarl of Bjallsky, the most prominent of the human territories of the west.« His arms were wide and presenting, the man clearly had some prestige about him.

Lastly came the tattooed one, his voice was dry and the least welcome of any. »Mikkel Mikkelson, Jarl of Djupetgil.«

The Tabkha and Sokcha clansmen looked over their own people before stepping forward. »We were treated kindly, Queen Gemaudelene. My name is Karradam of the Tabkha, and this are Kaskin and ...Uyap of the Sokcha.«
Uyap appeared to look very much disinterested in the happenings, of course, he was almost dragged to this place by the other two.

 

[TTamark]

Steve moved to the seat pointed to him, and sat there. Once seated, he realized he still had the pot of stew around his neck, and it was still hot. He stood up, and began pulling out bowls and spoons from his backpack. He placed the bowls on the table before him, and began filling the bowls with the stew around his neck. Steve personally poured the bowls for the leaders, and passed the task off to Dr. Dairy when he had finished pouring theirs, wherein Dr. Dairy continued filling bowls, and then offering them to those in attendance. Steve then took out a number of potatoes, and using magic caused them to bloom into flowers of white, blue and purple.

Steve walked to each of the leader's seats, and offered each of them the stew and a flower, ending with Maude. As he severed each he Smiled as he bowed his head, thanked them for coming, and made a joke about how the stew was good enough to die for. As he served Maude, however, his smile faded only a little as he whispered,

"If it is all the same with you I would like to make sure the raven I sent is doing alright, could you please send for it, or allow my chicken go to it. Life is valuable, not many things are worth dying for... unless it is about getting some of my delicious stew. HAHAHA"

Steve laughed as he returned to his seat. Once there he bent over as he composed himself. This was it: time to face the people of the north. How he performed here might very well determine how many lived or died. Standing up straight again he face the room with confidence, and determination.

"Hello, thank you all for coming. I am Steve the one who asked you all here. I know I covered the basics in my initial message, but I will repeat them again now. There is a army of the undead, and those who would ally with the dead, sailing up to the southern part of Eretejva as we speak. This army does not take acts of opposition against it lightly, and has already killed, and turned many who dared stand against them. I am one of the founders of this group, known as the Eternum. The reason I have asked you all to come here was so that I could keep as few of you from becoming shells of your former selves. Honestly there is a lot to cover, but first I think it would be good to allow you to ask your questions, this news no doubt has caused you to have some. So what can I tell todo you want to know?"

 

[Maude]

Maude watched the proceedings with a stony, inscrutable expression. So far as the politics of the tundra went, things had been mostly quiet during the reign of the late King Iordahn. Nordengaard experienced growth of trade and peaceable alliances in spades during those many decades and it was daunting to see just how badly things had gone once Borvenir took the stage.

There should have been more in attendance. Many more. The tundra nations were far afield, it was true, but all of them knew how to survive. How easily the desire to travel wilted in times of peace. If she had come to support Borvenir and seek the genocide he'd been calling for, there was no doubt in her mind that war would have rocked every last leader out of their frozen hollow. The Queen's eyes narrowed, a respectful nod given to each leader as they introduced themselves, and said nothing more as she watched their guest make himself strangely comfortable and began serving up stew.

How odd.

Whether or not the others partook was none of her business, but Maude had made plenty of enemies during her own coup. She would take no chances. Steve served her stew, to which she nodded a silent thanks, but it remained untouched.

The Queen tilted her head at his murmured request, however, and settled upon him the very same gaze a mountain might give a howling wind: stern and utterly unmoving. His pet could be dealt with later once the high priority items were finished. A line formed on her lips, strong jaw setting in a silent response as he took his seat once again and opened the floor for discussion.

Maude remained reticent, but her Priest shifted in his seat at her other side and cleared his throat, "Why exactly have they come to Eretejva?"

 

[Sannoru]

Mikkel Mikkelron's face contorted into a wrinkled mess as he grimaced at the soup offering. The man before him was a joke.

The others decided to listen closely. Among the Sokcha, people began to exchange messages, or rather they relayed some messages with sign language. Wondering about the undead but it seems some worldly individual in the crowd quelled their answers.
Kaskil spoke after the Queen. »And where do they originate from.«

 

[Arnor Skuldsson]

It was quite a ways away that Arnor received the news, north of the Spine. There was a curious incident, a caravan of a young Nordenfiir family... on the Summer Lands. The passing of the two could not go unnoticed or unspoken, so Arnor stopped to speak to the young family, complete with two children. They remarked how they were afraid for their lives, being so close to the sea, and that they needed to escape the oncoming army of the dead.

Obviously, this raised Arnor's brows. An army of the dead threatening his homeland? Exiled, self-imposed or not, that was still home to thousands of people.... his people. They were from the fishing villages to the south, and had received word from their respective Jorns of the incoming danger.

Arnor nodded and patted Rhi, running a hand over the mighty horse's mane. He thanked the young family and gave them one of his smaller swords as a thank you. The Axe of Knottington, the one literal at his side, and the figurative one began to...

Head home.

The crimson-haired braid in his hair never felt heavier than it did before. It'd been there all this time. He wondered if she was there still. If she got the same message he did. Rhi wasn't a fast-moving horse, not while he was sober, anyways. But Rhi and Arnor were going to do the one thing that they hadn't done, not ever for his horse, and not since he was a young man for Arnor...

They were going home.

 

[TTamark]

Maude remained reticent, but her Priest shifted in his seat at her other side and cleared his throat, "Why exactly have they come to Eretejva?"

Steve turned to the priest,

"When it comes to intentionally preserving the dead there are three main ways: drying, freezing, or replacing. There is also one more way that bodies tend to be preserved, though this type tends to be accidental: Within cold bogs where the air burns your lungs, and the water kills most life, so it is thick with death. There the poison seeps into the dead, and though the bones become jelly, the flesh stays forever.

When you are undead you only live as long as your body. We are coming here so that our bodies will last. Now though the tundra is only ideal for one of the options, freezing, all the others can exist here as well, though they will take longer. Time luckily however is on our side."

Kaskil spoke after the Queen. »And where do they originate from.«

Steve faced Kaskil,

"I dare say that we come from every corner of the world. You are from a land of ice where the wind carries the snow, but one of those that stands beside me comes from a land of fire where the wind carries only sand. You hide from the cold, while they hide from the heat. With us also come those who were born in lands where they saw tree instead of sky when they looked up. As for me I come from a land where if I looked out I could see green grass going on forever. The grass went out to where the sun rose, and continued all the way to where it lay'd at night. From the founding of the Eternum however, from my memory of maps I would say we traveled about a quarter of the world just to reach here. That shows just how much they desire to be here."

 

[Hugi]

The horned helm trudged through the gate from a long trip of it's own will, glancing towards a guard in a brief exchange of words as it paused for news. It wasn't the pleasant news the man had hoped for giving a hefty sigh to the words that came from the other man.

They are here, talking.

He shuddered at the thought of undead being present here, but they were here and he did not see warrior's jumping to arms or hear war horns. Not entirely sure how to feel about the lack of action, he shook himself and moved towards the great hall they were all likely in. He shook his head, his braided beard half frozen past the helm as the leather and hides kept the weather at bay.

He took the path quickly, still feeling uneasy about the unholy things being here and speaking with the leaders. The twin axes clinked against the metal plated belt as the leather shoulders huffed and puffed with his swinging arms. Even without the grizzly form, he was a giant of a man as most Nordenfiir were.

The large gouge across the front of his helm marked him out for who he was. One of the men that had helped Maude overthrow the foolish man that had held the throne with violence rather than peace. The gouge had marred his mouth as well, making the left side into a permanent sneer almost clear to his ear. Forever made to remember and remind others of that bloody fight, and the reason for it.

He made good time to the great hall and crept quietly inside. His helm came into view first, peering over the bottom edge of the staircase for Maude and instead finding a large assembly of people. He ducked down and waffled for a second, deciding to listen and wait where he was for a time. At least until he was called upon.

 

[Maude]

There were obvious expressions of concern and disgust across the faces of those Nordenfiir in attendance. The Queen's face remained unchanged, but her gaze did switch away from Steve to the staircase at the far side of the hall where Hugi hovered just out of sight. Couldn't fool a Norden nose and Hugi's musk was unmistakable. She caught the eye of Denma at the table and nodded towards the stairs for the Councilwoman to fetch him.

Aether looked gravely upon Steve, taking a slow drink from his horn of ale and considering his words carefully, "And what is it you're here to ask of we northern folk?"

Denma wandered casually over to the stairs, eyeing Hugi with a raised brow, "You're late, Councilor. Best you take your seat. Oh an-" she leaned to speak low to him, "I don't recommend the stew."

 

[TTamark]

"What I am attempting to work out with you is to get some land, as well as some formal diplomacy, you know get stuff like trade deals. If I am very very lucky I might even convince you to not to attack us, HAHA.

Here let me put it this way: I want to minimize pointless violence, and I am optimistic that we can actually form a really beneficial relationship. I know that this may seem a bit odd after I was coming here warning of a threat, but what I really want is to be friends."

 

[Hugi]

Denma couldn't see the small grimace that Hugi made at her comment, not that it would look any different than his usual expression when he looked at her. "Just returned, surprised at the peace though." He grumbled, coming up the stairs and moving to his seat, giving his queen a nod. He decided to not joke with her this time, in lieu of the matter at hand, instead biting his tongue rather than calling her sister in their own tongue.

He sat silently, not removing his helm but listening nonetheless. It was one thing to be able to tell one was a Nordenfiir, another to be able to pin a face to a name on the battle field. The helmet certainly made him noticeable, but without a face to recognize, it made sneaking around a bit easier.

 

[Sannoru]

Uyap uncrossed his arms and leaned forward. He brushed his hair aside, sounding rather dismissive of the proposals. »The messages you have sent, however, speak of danger. Why would we want to approach such a force, or how you called it, horde, if it may end in our demise?«